Signaling system



June l0, 1930. D. M. DALTON SIGNALING SYSTEM 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 2

ATTOR EY .June 1o, 1930. D. M. 1ML-m41 SIGNALING SYSTEM Ulli 2 .Tv e e h qw L@ d1 2 h s 2 9 1 o 2. w. N 5 d e 1 n a 4 A/ w 3W MAL l ATTORNEY BYH Patented June 10, 1930 UNlTED STATES DONALD M. DALTON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SIGNALING SYSTEM Application filed November 2, 1929. Serial No. 404,383.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT 0F MARCH 3, 1883, AS AMENDED ARIL 30, 1928; 370 0. Gr. '757) My invention relates broadlyto a signaling system and more particularly to a visible air whistle.

An object of the invention contemplates the provision of a visible plume to be used in connection with an air whistle on a land or water vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the emission of a visible medium simultaneously with the sound of an air whistle whereby the location of the sound is indicated.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as willbe described more fully hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this speciication, `in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating a signaling system of the character described employing an automatically operated sylphon, and

Figure 2 is a view illustrating a signaling system employing a mechanically operated sylphon.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, A indicates a tank of other receptacle of any desirable noneroding material which is divided into two compartments, the compartment 1 containing titanium tetrachloride (SNCLQ) or other air combining liquid to form a cloud, and the compartment 2 containing carbon dioxide (CO2), or an inert gas. A by-pass 3 connects the two compartments for the passage of the carbon dioxide from compartment 2 to compartment 1, there being a valve 31 in the by-pass to disconnect the two compartments during their filling process. The carbon dioxide is admitted to its compartment through ay filling valve 1, which I have shown being situated in a line leading to the by-pass, but it will be understood that it may be placed elsewhere in the wall of the compartment, if desired. Compartment 1 is filled through the inlet nozzle 5 in which there is a suitable valve, while each of the compartments may be cleaned and emptied through drain cocks 6.

A pressure pump, generally designated B, has communication within the titanium tetrachloride, or other chemical, compartment through a suction line 7. lThe pump is essentially one in which the chemical passing therethrough can not escape eX- cept through the outlets provided for that purpose, thereby insuring that the plume will be formed only at the time and place desired. A sylphon 8 is secured to the cover 9 of the pump body 10, it being open at one end to a pipe line 11 which in turn is connected by a two-way valve 12 to a whistle air line 13. The sylphon, due to its nature, is normally contracted allowing maximum volume in the pump body. The supply chamber 14 and the discharge chamber 15 of the pump are each bored in the casing thereof. A check valve 16 for controlling the supply of titanium tetrachloride, or other chemical to the pump is placed conveniently in the suction line 7. A pressure operated ejector valve 17 is connected to the discharge chamber 15 of the pump by a line 18, in which a check valve 19 is located at a convenient place. As the ejector valve itself may be any type of spring loaded relief valve having a suitable atomizing tip, a more comprehensive description of its details of construction is not given. The ejecting pressure of the valve 17 may be set by means of the regulator 2O to the valve best suited for atomization of the chemical on emission from the valve. 1

An air supply line 21, in which there eX- ists a pressure of from 100 to 200 pounds under normal operating conditions, connects through the two-way valve 12 with the line 13 leading to the air diaphragm whistle 22, as well as with the pipe line 11 leading to the sylphon.

The operation of the invention is as follows: Compartment 1 is filled with titanium tetrachloride or other chemical through lilling nozzle 5 after which the valve therein is closed. Compartment 2 is charged with carbon dioxide or other inert gas to any low pressure and the valve 4f ,in supply line 'r3 closed. The pressure in compartment 2 will escape to compartment 1 through the bypass 3, valve 31 being open and the chemical in the latter compartment will be forced into pipe line 7 from whence it passes into pump B, ultimately finding its way to the ejector valve as will be explained later.

With pressure in line 21, valve 12 is turned permitting air :topass through .the line 13 tov the Whistle 22. VAt the same time air also passes to the sylphon which is expandedV causing hydraulic pressure to be placed on the chemical that has entered through the supply line 7 ,andsupply chamber 14. VThis pressure acting on the chemical forces it through the discharge chamber 15r and through pipe line 18, valve 19 being open, to the ejector valve 17 where the forceeof the chemical opens the atomizing tip and the chemical is sprayed into the atmosphere. This spray due to the character of titanium tetrachloride or other chemical used, immediately forms a white cloud which being emitted simultaneously with the sound of the Whistle is a visible indication of the direct location ofthe sound. It will, of course,

be understood that the construction of my system will permit the ejector valve to be placed adjacent .to the soundl device, `or it may be'remotely situated with respect thereto, if desired. The chemicalin the pump is prevented from re-entering the line 7, upon expansion of the sylphon, by action of check valve 16. On cessation of the blast from the ejector valve, valve 12 is turned to its closed position shutting off the flow Aof air to the'line 11. This permits the sylphon,

f which, due to its inherent contracting characteristic, to vent itself, the air therein escaping through the line 11 and valve 12, that now has opened communication between lines 11 and 13, into line 13 to spend itself into the atmosphere through the Whistle 22. Valve 19 being closed and valve 16 open, the suction effect due to the contraction of the sylphon, draws in a fresh supply of chemical to the amount ejected through the ejector valve in the previous blast, the movement of the chemical from tank A being aided Vby the pressure of the carbon dioxide or other inert gas. The gas is used notV only as an aidA for lling the pump but also to keep the chemical.k covered eliminating fuming or the formationmof clogging substances which would be im mediately formed if the tank were vented with air. y

In the type of device shown in Figure 2 the chemical is stored in the'tank- A-I from whence it passes through check valve 16 to,` the pumpl B', and thence throughircheck valvef19 to the ejector valve 17, all as in the system hereabove described. VIn the previous system, however,v the operation` of the I sylphon within thepum-p body is automatic upon the opening of the valve 12 in the main air supply line, whereas in the embodiment now to be described the operation is manually performed, causing a slight deviation in the ksequence of events in the operation of the system. In the automatic system the pump is caused to operate at the opening of the valve 12, while with the manually controlled sylphon, the valve in the main air supply line is caused to open by the mechanism that imparts movement to the sylphon. A slight change in the con-v struction of the pump is made necessary thereby.V e Y H The pump is composed of the body portion`10 and cover 9', between which is Ysecured a. guide member 23 provided with a central opening through which a plunger 24 is free to operate. One end of the plunger is connected in a desirable manner to the sylphon 8. A spring 25,- surrounding the plunger on the side of the guide member opposite to that of the closed end of the sylphon, bears againstthe guide member and the free end of the plun er to normally hold the sylphon in collapse position. ,Y The cover 9 is provided with an eXtension 26 provided with a slot 27 in which a lever having an eccentric head portion 28 and an operating handle 29 is pivotally `mounted and iny which it is adjustable so that it may be movedto'or away from the plunger against which it bears, to vary the amount of movement of the lunger thereby regulating the volume of c emical ejected from the pump by the sylphon. The operating handle may be provided, if desired, With Y a means for its remote control, and it is connected to a valve 30, that controls the flow of air from the air supply line 21 to Vthe line 13, through a series of links 31 and 32. As the operating handle is moved in one directionl to move the plunger,it simultaneously opens valve 3() permitting air from the air source to How through line 13 to the whistle 22,'and when moved in the opposed direction to free the plunger so that it may return to its normal position under tension of spring 25, it at the same time closes valve 30, cutting off the' flowof air and stopping the Whistle.

It will thus be seen that my invention eliminates all points'where leakage might normally occur, particularly the leakage of water which'might be caused by high water pressures or straining of the apparatus through being buffetted by wind and sea'. Also clogging of internal parts due to formation of solids caused by air contacts is eliminated. Thus, a regular low of the chemical through the system is assured, and possible premature contact of air with the chemical is also eliminated.

It will be understood thatthe above description and accompanyingdrawings comprehend only the preferred and general embodlment of my invention and that various minor changes 1n details of construction,

i proportion and arrangements of parts may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims and without sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a signaling system, a reservoir, a prime mover inl communication with the reservoir, a visible medium ejector in communication with the prime mover, a sound producing device, and a source of power for operating the prime mover and sound producing device.

2. In a signaling system, a reservoir including a plurality of communicating compartments, a pump in communication with one of said compartments, a visible medium ejector in communication with the prime mover, a sound producing device, and a source of power for operatingthe prime mover and sound producing device.

3. In a signaling system, a compartment containing a chemical, a compartment containing a gas, means permitting the contents of the latter compartment to pass into the first said compartment, a pump in communication with the first said compartment for removal of the contents thereof, an ejector valve in communication with the pump Jfor the emission into the atmosphere of the said contents passing through the pump, and a source of power for operating the pump.

4f. In a signaling system, a compartment containing a chemical, a compartment containing a gas, an ejector valve, a sound producing device, means for transmitting the chemical from the compartment to the ejector valve, and means for simultaneously operating the first said means and the sounding device.

5.111 a signaling system, a reservoir, an ejector valve, a pump intermediate the reservoir and the valve, means within the pump vfor producing a pressure on the contents in the pump to eject them through the valve, a sound producing device, and means for simultaneously operating the first said means and the sound producing device.

6. In a signaling system, a reservoir, an

ejector valve, a pump intermediate the reservoir and the valve, means within the pump for producing a hydraulic pressure on the contents in the pump to eject them through the valve, a sound producing device, and means for simultaneously operating the rst said means and the sound producing device.

7. In a signaling system, a reservoir, an

ejector valve, a pump intermediate the reservoir and the valve, a sylphon within the pump for producing a pressure on the contents in the pump to eject them through the valve, a sound producing device, and means valve.

D. M. DALTON. 

